India now shifts attention to the T20s as a five-match series against South Africa begins on Tuesday in Cuttack. Ten games are scheduled before the T20 World Cup at home next year. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team intend to keep their combinations steady, with Shubman Gill returning to open alongside Abhishek Sharma and the skipper set to bat at number three.
The management have also retained Sanju Samson in a middle-order role after Gill reclaimed the opening slot. Suryakumar stressed the need for flexibility among the batters and highlighted that both Gill and Samson remain key to the team’s plans.
“We don’t want to change too much in terms of combinations. The focus is simply on the type of cricket we want to play; apart from that, there’s nothing major we want to alter. Sanju is a batter who can play higher up the order. He has done well as an opener. Shubman played ahead of Sanju because he deserved that spot, but we still ensured Sanju got opportunities,” Suryakumar said at the pre-match press conference.
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“Apart from the openers, everyone else needs to be flexible. They must adapt. Both of them are very much in our plans — both can perform multiple roles. It’s an asset for the team and a good headache to have,” he added.
Suryakumar Yadav on Returning to Domestic Cricket
The skipper then encouraged players to stay connected with domestic cricket. He believes regular appearances in home tournaments help both emerging and senior cricketers refine their skills.
“With fewer international fixtures, players are spending more time in domestic cricket — in a way, it’s taking them back to their roots. It’s important to play domestic cricket whenever possible. Many players go back, stay in touch with the game, and there’s always a lot to learn. It’s a very important part of their development,” he said.
“We don’t want to change too much in terms of combinations. The focus is on the type of cricket we want to play. We have to play 10 T20 games against two quality oppositions before the World Cup, so the immediate focus is on those matches. As we get closer to the tournament, we’ll gradually shift our focus fully to the T20 World Cup,” Suryakumar Yadav concluded.
India enter the series after a 2-1 ODI win. The first T20I takes place on Tuesday, December 9th.
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